Guianan Squirrel

About the Guianan Squirrel

The Brazilian squirrel (Sciurus aestuans), or Guianan squirrel, is a species of tree squirrel endemic to South America. It is found in south-eastern Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Venezuela. Brazilian squirrels have primarily olive-gray fur with brown or yellow grizzling. The eye is surrounded by a pale yellow-brown ring, and a pale yellow postauricular patch is sometimes present. The belly is paler than the rest of the body, typically white, cream, buff, or pale yellow. The overside of the tail is the same color as the main body, while the underside is typically reddish and more variable.

The typical head and body length is 160–186 millimetres (6.3–7.3 in), with the tail comprising another 162–250 millimetres (6.4–9.8 in). Body mass is typically 160–380 grams (5.6–13.4 oz). The Brazilian squirrel inhabits forested regions through most of Brazil, alongside Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and parts of Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina.

Brazilian squirrels inhabit tropical rainforests, swamps and wet forests, and gallery forests. They can also be found in urban parks, gardens, and plantations. Wikipedia →